Cabinet door frame corner

ABSTRACT

A cabinet door frame corner comprising a horizontally extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a horizontal end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of the side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; a vertically extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a vertical end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of the side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; at least one of the horizontally extending frame member and the vertically extending frame member having a section on at least one of the side walls extending inwardly in the insertion channel; a longitudinal single-piece connector having two portions, each portion being insertable in one of the insertion channels of the horizontally and vertically extending frame members, the connector including the other ones of the male members and the female members, the male and female members of the connector engaging into corresponding ones of the male and female members of the vertically extending frame member and the horizontally extending frame member, when the connector is inserted in the insertion channels, for connecting the horizontally extending frame member and the vertically extending frame member together through the longitudinal single-piece connector; the connector having an outwardly extending protuberance abutting the section extending inwardly in the insertion channel when the connector is inserted in the insertion channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to frames and more specifically to frames used to hold mirrors for cabinet doors.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art cabinet doors, especially medicine cabinet doors, typically comprise an exterior frame which holds a mirror panel. The frame is typically glued or taped onto the mirror and is hinged onto the cabinet. The frame is typically made of four distinct members arranged together to form a rectangular frame. The problem with the frame of these doors is that the members can slowly separate from one another and from the mirror panel which is then free to fall and break. This results in a serious risk of injury for the users.

A cabinet door is opened and closed repeatedly over the life of the cabinet, which is typically at least ten years. Furthermore, weight is applied on the door by the users who tend to pull the door downward while opening it and thereby facilitate the separation of the frame members and of the mirror from the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a cabinet door frame corner comprising a horizontally extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a horizontal end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of the side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; a vertically extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a vertical end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of the side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; at least one of the horizontally extending frame member and the vertically extending frame member having a section on at least one of the side walls extending inwardly in the insertion channel; a longitudinal single-piece connector having two portions, each portion being insertable in one of the insertion channels of the horizontally and vertically extending frame members, the connector including the other ones of the male members and the female members, the male and female members of the connector engaging into corresponding ones of the male and female members of the vertically extending frame member and the horizontally extending frame member, when the connector is inserted in the insertion channels, for connecting the horizontally extending frame member and the vertically extending frame member together through the longitudinal single-piece connector; the connector having an outwardly extending protuberance abutting the section extending inwardly in the insertion channel when the connector is inserted in the insertion channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 comprises FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a medicine cabinet provided on a wall above a sink in a closed door configuration and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the medicine cabinet of FIG. 1A in an open door configuration;

FIG. 2 comprises FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, wherein FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the exterior side of an assembled cabinet door and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the interior side of the same cabinet door;

FIG. 3 comprises FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, wherein FIG. 3A is an assembled perspective view of the interior side of the four members which form a top left corner of the frame of the cabinet door of FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B is the assembled view of FIG. 3A with a vanity mirror affixed to the interior of the frame;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the members of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking plug;

FIG. 6 comprises FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B wherein FIG. 6A is an assembled perspective view of the exterior side of three members of FIG. 3A and FIG. 6B is the assembled view of FIG. 6A with the mirror panel affixed to the exterior of the frame;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the exterior side of the three members of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 8 comprises FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B wherein FIG. 8A is a side perspective view of the connector with a U-shaped horizontal portion, the protuberances being provided on a free end thereof and wherein FIG. 8B is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 comprises FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B wherein FIG. 9A is a side perspective view of the connector with a double U-shaped horizontal portion, a protuberance being provided on a free end of each U-shaped section and wherein FIG. 9B is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 comprises FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B wherein FIG. 10A is a side perspective view of the connector with an oval-shaped horizontal portion on which are provided the protuberances and wherein FIG. 10B is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 10A; and

FIG. 11 comprises FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B wherein FIG. 11A is a side perspective view of the connector with a U-shaped horizontal portion, the protuberances being provided on an attached end thereof and wherein FIG. 11B is a top plan view of the connector of FIG. 11A.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a medicine cabinet 10 provided on a wall above a sink 12. The door of the medicine cabinet has a mirror panel 14 held by a cabinet door frame (not shown). In this example, the door is opened from the left-hand side and is therefore hinged at the right-hand side. Storage units 18 are provided on either sides of the cabinet 10. In FIG. 1B, the door of the medicine cabinet 10 is opened and the interior side of the cabinet door frame can be partly seen. A vanity mirror is provided inside the door and hinges are used to affixed the door frame to the cabinet box itself. Shelves are provided in the cabinet.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the exterior side of an assembled cabinet door 20. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the interior side of the same assembled cabinet door 20. The door appears to be frameless from the exterior side with a mirror panel 14 affixed to the front of the cabinet door 20. The door 20 has a door frame 22 which includes multiple elements assembled together to form the door frame. The door 20 can also have an interior vanity mirror panel 24 received in the interior side of the cabinet door frame 22. The mirror panel 14 and the vanity mirror panel 24 are affixed to respectively the exterior side and the interior side of the cabinet door frame using, for example, 1/32″ thick double sided tape around the perimeter of the door. Glue could alternately be used to hold the mirrors.

In FIG. 2B, two hinge apertures 26 are provided on either side of the door for attachment to a hinge mechanism (not shown). As will be readily understood, other hinge attachment means could be used and the side of the frame 22 need not bear apertures. Similarly, apertures could be provided on both sides even if only one side is used by the hinge mechanism.

The cabinet door frame 22 is provided with mechanical fasteners to ensure integrity of the frame and ensure that the different portions of the frame are held together. More particularly, a rectangular frame is made of four corners, at least one of which can be the present cabinet door frame corner.

The top left corner of the interior side of the door frame 22 without the vanity mirror is shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B shows the same corner with the vanity mirror affixed to the frame. FIG. 4 is an exploded version of FIG. 3A. The corner of the door frame 22 is composed of three main members with an optional fourth member. The corner of the door frame 22 comprises a vertical (upright) longitudinal piece 30, a horizontal longitudinal piece 40 and a connector 50 used to fasten the vertical longitudinal piece 30 to the horizontal longitudinal piece 40. An optional locking plug 60 can also be provided to ensure integrity of the assembled corner.

The vertically extending frame member or jamb 30 is generally C-shaped and has two opposed and spaced-apart side walls 32 and 34 joined by end wall 36 defining an insertion channel therebetween. Side wall 32 has a section 32 a forming the insertion channel, a section 32 b extending inwardly in the insertion channel and then has a mirror section 32C, adapted to receive the vanity mirror panel 24. Section 32 c is provided with a recess or female portion 38. The vanity mirror panel, once received in the door frame 22, is affixed to sections 32 c and 32 b with, for example, double-sided tape applied on section 32 c.

The horizontally extending frame member 40 has two opposed and spaced-apart side walls 42 and 44 joined by a U-Shaped top wall 46 defining an insertion channel therebetween. Side wall 42 will be described more in detail below with reference to FIG. 7. Side wall 44 has an exterior portion 44 a, an installation channel 48 in the shape of a C-shaped female fastener adapted to receive a molded bumper and a mirror portion 44 b. The molded bumper is optional and is used to, for example, soften the closing action of the doors. Bottom portion 44 b is adapted to receive the vanity mirror panel 24. Top wall 46 is U-Shaped to provide a spacing for a user's finger at the time of opening the cabinet door by pulling on the edges of the U-shaped wall. This shape is optional and the top wall need not be U-shaped.

The connector or door cap 50 has two portions 52 and 54, each portion being insertable in one of the insertion channels of the vertically and horizontally extending frame members, respectively. Vertical portion 52 is inserted into the insertion channel of vertical member 30. It includes a first mechanical locking tab 56 on which are provided a male element 57 and an abutment 58. Once inserted in the vertical member 30, the male element 57 is received in the recess 38 and the abutment 58 is abutted to the interior of section 32 b of side wall 32. The two members are then solidly assembled. The abutment, shown in the shape of a ramp, prevents the vertical portion from twisting relative to the cap or connector 50 and from sliding out. The abutment could also be provided in the shape of a simple rectangular stop. During assembly the connector 50 slides into the upright 30 from a horizontal direction, pushing the side walls 32 and 34 of the upright 30 apart slightly during sliding, the ramp configuration of the abutment 58 allowing easier insertion. The connector then snaps into place when the abutment abuts the portion 32 b of the side wall 32 and the male portion 57 consequently enters the female portion 38. The connector could be inserted from the top but it would not be as graceful and would require more force.

The optional locking plug 60 can also be provided to ensure integrity of the assembled vertical member and connector. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the locking plug 60. Locking plug 60 has a wall 62 and a protuberance 64 which is adapted to be received into the male portion 57 which has been inserted into the recess 38. Male portion 57 is therefore provided with an opening corresponding to protuberance 64. Male portion 57 therefore extends away from the connector while being, for example, perforated in its center, as in a protruding ring, to provide an opening for protuberance 64.

FIG. 6A is an assembled perspective view of the exterior side of the three members of FIG. 3 without the mirror panel 14 affixed to the door frame. FIG. 6B is the exterior side of FIG. 6A with the mirror panel 14 affixed to the door frame. FIG. 7 is an exploded version of FIG. 6A. The interior side of the connector 50 shows that the vertical portion 52 has a shape adapted to be received in the vertical channel formed by side walls 32 and 34 of the vertical member 30. Back wall 61 of the connector is the only portion of the connector which will be visible once the frame 22 is assembled (see FIG. 6A). The horizontal portion 54 is provided with two protuberances 63 and 65 adapted to hold the horizontal member 40. Corresponding recesses or holes 66 and 68 in the side wall 42 of the horizontal member 40 are adapted to respectively receive protuberances 63 and 65 when horizontal end 54 is inserted in the channel of the horizontal member 40. The reason for two recesses, holes or female portions 66 and 68 is to better resist to twisting of the horizontal cross piece 40 from the connector 50. The holes 66 and 68 on the horizontally-oriented frame member 40 are on one side only of the piece to facilitate tooling. The mirror panel 14 is affixed to side wall 42 of horizontal member 40, back wall 61 of connector 50 and side wall 34 of vertical member 30 with, for example, double-sided tape applied on each wall.

To assemble the frame, the male features 57, 63 and 65 of the connector 50 are inserted and held in the female features 66 and 68 of the horizontally-oriented frame member 40 and female feature 38 of the vertically-oriented frame member 30 and the connector ensures integrity of the corner of the frame. The frame can be assembled in any order. For ease of assembly, the connector 50 and horizontal member 40 can be assembled first and then that assembled piece can slide into the upright 30. The same male and female features can be provided at the opposite ends of the horizontal and vertical members. Therefore, the same process, with a new connector 50 for each corner, is repeated at each corner of the frame to create a rectangular frame 22. The interior vanity mirror 24 is affixed to the interior of the frame using double faced tape. The optional molded bumper provided with connectors is secured in the C-shaped fastener 48. The mirror panel 14 is affixed last to the exterior of the frame using, for example double faced tape. The hinge is installed on the interior side of one vertical member. The cabinet door can then be affixed to the cabinet.

Alternatively, only one or some of the corners of the frame may comprise the three member arrangement described above and the other corners may have a different arrangement.

In this example, the longitudinal pieces 30 and 40 are made of aluminum and the connector 50 is made of plastic.

The example described above and illustrated is given for illustrative purposes only, as an indication of a way to embody the present cabinet door frame. Alternate configurations can substantially depart from this example.

For example, all female and male portions shown can take on a different shape, configuration or arrangement and can even be substituted for one another, for example a protuberance on the connector can be replaced by a hole and the corresponding hole on the horizontal or vertical member replaced by a protuberance. Screws or adhesive could be used to replace some female and male portions.

Mirror panels 14 and 24 can be substituted by other types of panels depending on the use proposed for the cabinet. Interior vanity mirror 24 is completely optional. The molded bumper is also completely optional. Consequently, the C-shaped female fastener 48 of side wall 44 is optional.

The holes 66 and 68 on the horizontally-oriented frame member 40 are on one side only 42 of the piece 40 to facilitate tooling but could alternatively be provided one on each side or both on the other side 44. Even though two female portions 66 and 68 are preferred, only one fastening means can be used to attach the horizontal cross piece 40 to the connector 50.

Abutment 58 does not need to have a ramp configuration and can be a simple stop, for example.

Female portion 38 of the vertical member 30 can be provided on either side wall. Corresponding male portion 57 will need to be provided on a corresponding side of the connector.

The portion 32 b which extends inwardly into the channel of the vertical member could alternatively be provided on side wall 34 and wall 32 would then be straight.

The vertical member can be placed horizontally and the horizontal member can be placed vertically.

The locking plug 60 could comprise a female member instead of a protuberance or could consist in a pin adapted to be inserted in an aperture, for example a tapered aperture, of the male member available when the male member is fitted into the female member.

The shapes of many portions of the horizontal member, vertical member and connector could be changed without departing from the invention. FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 show examples of different shapes for the horizontal portion 54 of the connector 50, all bearing the protuberances 63 and 65. In FIG. 8, horizontal portion 54 is a U-shaped horizontal portion, the protuberances 63 and 65 being provided on a free end thereof. In FIG. 9, the horizontal portion 54 is a double U-shaped horizontal portion, a protuberance being provided on a free end of each U-shaped section. In FIG. 10, the horizontal portion 54 is an oval-shaped horizontal portion on which are provided the protuberances 63 and 65. In FIG. 11, horizontal portion 54 is a U-shaped horizontal portion, the protuberances 63 and 65 being provided on an attached end thereof.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A cabinet door frame corner comprising: a horizontally extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a horizontal end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of said side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; a vertically extending frame member having two opposed and spaced-apart side walls joined by a vertical end wall defining an insertion channel therebetween, at least one of said side walls includes at least one of a male member and a female member; at least one of said horizontally extending frame member and said vertically extending frame member having a section on at least one of said side walls extending inwardly in the insertion channel; a longitudinal single-piece connector having two portions, each portion being insertable in one of the insertion channels of the horizontally and vertically extending frame members, said connector including the other ones of the male members and the female members, the male and female members of said connector engaging into corresponding ones of the male and female members of the vertically extending frame member and the horizontally extending frame member, when the connector is inserted in the insertion channels, for connecting the horizontally extending frame member and the vertically extending frame member together through the longitudinal single-piece connector; said connector having an outwardly extending protuberance abutting the section extending inwardly in the insertion channel when the connector is inserted in the insertion channel.
 2. The cabinet door frame corner of claim 1, wherein said section is provided on at least one side wall of said vertically extending frame member; and said outwardly extending protuberance is provided on said portion insertable in said insertion channel of said vertically extending frame member.
 3. The cabinet door frame corner of claim 1, further comprising a locking plug adapted to secure engagement of the corresponding male and female members of the connector and vertically extending frame member when said connector is inserted in the insertion channel of the vertically extending frame member.
 4. The cabinet door frame corner of claim 1, wherein said protuberance of the connector is a ramp with a non-sloping side adapted to abut said section extending inwardly.
 5. The cabinet door frame corner of claim 1, wherein said at least one of a male member and a female member of said horizontally extending frame member is two female elements and said portion of said connector insertable in said channel of said horizontally extending frame member has two corresponding male elements. 